Published October 4, 2013

Students from the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s National Student Speech-Language
Hearing Association (NSSLHA)—in the ULM Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Department—recently
participated in a community service project providing winter clothing items to local
Early Head Start Centers.

Winter clothing items collected and donated by SLP students.

“Our students recognized a human need and took action to meet that need,” said Dr.
Johanna Boult, head of ULM’s Department of Speech-Language Pathology.

“This shows me that they are learning more than just the skill of speech-language
pathology; they are learning to be community service providers. In this case, their
service will provide children who attend Early Head Start with winter shoes and clothing
they'll need to bundle up to play outside as the weather turns cooler.”

The students—led by the ULM NSSLHA President Heather Usey of St. Amant—were able to
purchase over 70 jackets, 50 pairs of gloves, 25 hats, and over 30 pairs of socks.

Boult

“Our graduate students visit early head start centers twice per week for language
facilitation and stimulation,” said Usey.

“In the past, when children did not have proper clothing during the colder months,
they were not allowed to play outside; so using the money we raised through our departmental
fundraiser as well as through donations from our generous community, we were able
to purchase the items.”

The students serve two centers in Monroe and one in West Monroe.

ULM’s Department of Speech-Language Pathology is accredited by the Council of Academic
Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders of the American Speech-Language Hearing
Association (ASHA).

The department also houses the Kitty DeGree Speech and Hearing Center.

For more information about ULM Speech-language Pathology, visit ulm.edu/slp or call 318-342-1392.

More about Head Start

According to their website, Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school
readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families by enhancing their
cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Head Start programs provide a learning environment that supports children's growth
in the following domains including, language and literacy; cognition and general knowledge;
physical development and health; social and emotional development; and approaches
to learning.